You don't need to be afraid. Your joy is just beginning; God has a plan for you! Find support today! View our resource help page for help.
O Lord, all the world belongs to you, and you are always making all things new. What is wrong you forgive, and the new life you give is what's turning the world upside down.
The World's only loving to its friends, but you have brought us love that never ends; loving enemies too, and this loving with you is what's turning the world upside down.
This world lives divided and apart. You draw all men together and we start in your body to see that in fellowship we can be turning the wold upside down.
The world wants the wealth to live in state, but you show us a new way to be great: like a servant you came, and if we do the same, we'll be turning the world upside down.
O Lord all the world belongs to you, and you are always making all things new. Send your spirit on all in your church whom you call to be turning the world upside down.
Amen.
I will never forget you, my people; I have carved you on the palm of my hand. I will never forget you; I will not leave you orphaned. I will never forget my own. Does a mother forget her baby? Or a woman the child within her womb? Yet even if these forget, yes if even if these forget, I will never forget my own. I will never forget you, my people; I have carved you on the palm of my hand. I will never forget you; I will not leave you orphaned. I will never forget my own.
One night I had a dream…
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; One belonged to me, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before us, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, There was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me, and I questioned the Lord about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, You would walk with me all the way; But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why in times when I needed you the most, you should leave me.
The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child. I love you, and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.
One night my best friend in high school called me totally in tears. I hadn't seen her since we left for college. She told me she got pregnant her first semester at State and let her boyfriend talk her into an abortion. It was the baby's due date the night she called. Her boyfriend broke up with her months ago because she "wasn't fun to be around anymore." What could I say? I had no clue how to deal with this.
Growing up we were both pro-life. I thought I could calm her down by saying stuff like "Don't worry. You did the right thing. What else could you do? It was the best choice." I told her to try to get over it and think about her future.
And I thought she was just being dramatic when she said she didn't have a future anymore. But I found out a few days later, she tried to kill herself. I keep wishing I had said something that could have helped her instead of making her feel more alone.
Many people know someone personally who is suffering because of an abortion. If a friend confided in you tomorrow that she had an abortion, would you be able to respond in a way that brings her closer to healing?
There are ways to avoid the mistake Andie made. Ways that may help your friend be hopeful again about her future.
If this is the first time your friend has told you about her abortion, she may be afraid that you will be critical or that you will repeat to others what she tells you. She must know that you are a real friend who cares about her and that you are not sitting in judgment of her.
Before you talk to her, keep in mind:
What does she need today?
Begin by listening to your friend. Let her pour out the whole store without interrupting her. You do not have to understand every detail. It's important that she lets go of some of the burdens she spent carrying and that she no longer feels alone.
She may talk about: